14 February,2014 07:25 AM IST | | Bharti Dubey and Varun Singh
Parents of actors Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Rubina Ali had been gifted the homes in Malad Malwani, but had said they preferred homes in Bandra, as their shanties were located there
Back in 2009, when child actors Rubina and Azhar were basking in the worldwide success of Danny Boyle's Oscar winning feature Slumdog Millionaire, the state housing agency MHADA gifted them each a one-bedroom-hall-kitchen apartment in the Malwani area of Malad.
Azharuddin in his shanty in Bandra, back in 2009. Azhar, who is 15 now, lives in Santacruz in a house allotted to his family by the Jai Ho trust
MHADA's Mumbai board chairman Amarjit Singh Manhas, and the Mumbai unit of the Congress even paid the money for the generous gifts. The young stars and their respective parents, however, had refused the allotments, saying they preferred apartments in or near Bandra, where their hutments were located.
Rubina at her residence in Bandra, in 2009. Both Rubina and Azhar are students now, and dream of pursuing careers in acting one day
Now, five years later, parents of both the children have returned to MHADA, saying that they want the homes after all. Recently, Rubina Ali's father, Rafique, started doing the rounds of MHADA's office in Kalanagar, Bandra (East), with the allotment letter dated May 2009, asking for a house in Malwani.
MiD DAY's report on the families delaying the decision about the MHADA homes on May 31, 2009
"I have been following up with MHADA for the last one month, but have been sent from one department to the other. I was supposed to meet Mr Koli, who is a senior officer, but was told he is not well," Rafique said. Rubina's father added that the allotment letter mentions that possession must be taken within 15 days, failing which allotment will be cancelled.
He added, "When I showed the papers to the officers at MHADA, they told me that this is not an issue. Besides, the payments for both the houses have been made.'' Rafique added that he had all the papers in place to prove that the Malad homes had been allotted to them, and Rs 4.90 lakh paid for each by the Congress committee.
Rubina Ali, who is now 16, lives with her parents in Bandra, while Azhar, who is 15, lives in Santacruz. Both flats were allotted to them by the Jai Ho trust. Both are studying now, but dream of being actors in future.
